The Mix — Patti Smith, more cool things to check out this weekend

PLENTY GOOD

If you’re looking for a family-friendly day of food, workshops, inspirational speakers, chef demos and more, you might want to check out The Good Food Festival running through Saturday at the UIC Forum, 725 W. Roosevelt. More than 150 exhibitors will be on hand in the Good Food Marketplace; gardening tips and a seed swap at the Garden Project Seed Swap; and local Chicago fare at the Good Food Court. Tickets: $15 at the door; $10 in advance. Local chefs Rick Bayless, Sandra Holl, Josh Kulp, Christine Cikowski and Paul Kahan and beer/wine purveyors will also be featured in cooking demos and lectures.

CHATTY PATTI

Rocker Patti Smith sits down for a chat with WBEZ’s Tony Sarabia at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 4545 N. Lincoln at 4 p.m. March 26. Tickets, $23-$25. NOTE: Smith’s in concert Thursday through Saturday at the venue (shows are sold-out, but check with box office for possible day-of-show throwbacks) with her Spring Awakening II (A Celebration of Poetry & Song) tour, featuring Jackson Smith, Jesse Smith & Tony Shanahan.

DOWNRIGHT NEIGHBORLY

Celebrate Greek culture, food, arts and crafts and more at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand, via “Neighborhoods of the World.” This week’s spotlight will be on Greece, with exhibitions of the country’s traditional folk music and dance among the highlights. Festival admission is free. Noon to 4 p.m. Visit navypier.com

BUNNY RUN

Head to Montrose Harbor, 4400 N. Lake Shore Drive, on March 26 for the sixth annual Bunny Rock Chicago 5K and Egg Hunt. The backdrop is the magnificent lakefront and ’80s rock music. An Easter egg hunt, featuring more than 3,000 candy-filled eggs, will keep the kiddies (ages 2-10) occupied while the grownups run for charity — the no-kill Red Door Animal Shelter. A petting zoo and a photo opp with the Easter Bunny round out the fun. Race time is 9 a.m. Egg hunt is 10:15 a.m.

QUARTERLY FUN

It’s only one-fourth the distance of a full marathon, but the Chicago Quarter Marathon is just as exciting and fun. The distance: 6.55 miles. The place: just outside Soldier Field at the Museum Campus. The start time: 9 a.m. March 26. The race benefits Prevent Child Abuse America. A Kids’ Hop starts at 10:45 a.m. For details/registration, click here.

PITCH PERFECT

The speed of a ball from the pitcher’s mound to home plate is the subject of “Fastball,” a documentary about the art of the powerful throw. Kevin Costner narrates the film that Richard Roeper calls “the definitive look at the timeless confrontation between pitcher and batter,” featuring comments by Justin Verlander, Nolan Ryan, Hank Aaron, Goose Gossage and others. A Q&A will follow the 7 p.m. March 25 screening at the Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport. For tickets, visit musicboxtheatre.com.

BOBCAT’S MANY LIVES

Much of Bobcat Goldthwait’s work these days is behind the camera, as director of the Robin Williams film “World’s Greatest Dad,” episodes of TV’s “Maron” and the new Cameron Esposito stand-up special (shot in Chicago!) that premiered this week on the Seeso streaming channel. But he still performs comedy, and he’ll take the stage of the Comedy Shrine in Aurora at 8 p.m. March 25 and 8 and 10 p.m. March 16. Info: comedyshrine.com.